EORTC celebrates World Radiotherapy Awareness Day (WRAD) through innovation and collaboration in clinical cancer trials

Brussels, Belgium, 5 September 2025 – On the occasion of World Radiotherapy Awareness Day (WRAD) celebrated on 7 September, EORTC proudly reaffirms its commitment to advancing radiotherapy for the benefit of cancer patients worldwide. Today, more than 50% of cancer patients require radiotherapy as part of cancer care and it is frequently used to treat the most common types, such as breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancer. 

WRAD serves as a crucial reminder of the vital role radiotherapy plays in curing cancer, improving patients' survival and quality of life. EORTC is at the forefront of this mission, driven by innovative platforms, dedicated groups and services, and a diverse portfolio of impactful studies. 

"Radiation Oncology is a pillar of EORTC's multidisciplinary clinical research agenda. E²-RADIatE, added to the historical and unique quality assurance programme in radiation oncology, has prompted an active agenda of forefront leading programmes, which are unique in Europe.  With at least 50% of the patients being treated with radiation oncology at some point in the course of their disease, continuing multidisciplinary therapeutic progress remains a very high priority for EORTC and all its partners." Denis Lacombe, EORTC, MD, CEO 

In collaboration with the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), the E²-RADIatE (EORTC-ESTRO RADiotherapy InfrAstrucTure for Europe) platform is a pillar of EORTC's radiotherapy initiatives. It is designed to systematically collect and analyse real-world radiotherapy data, providing a standardized framework for this process across Europe. 

E²-RADIatE is a multi-cohort platform for observational and interventional studies that systematically gathers comprehensive clinical, imaging, and radiotherapy planning data from a vast network of academic and non-academic centres across Europe.  

Learn more by watching this video 

By generating robust evidence on the effectiveness, toxicity, and quality of life outcomes of various radiotherapy approaches, E²-RADIatE addresses critical knowledge gaps and informs clinical decision-making. It serves as an invaluable resource for understanding the true impact of radiotherapy in routine practice and paves the way for future research, including novel study designs like "Trials within Cohorts" (TwiCs). 

EORTC is proud to partner with The Boots Group in supporting the platform. With one in two cancer patients needing radiotherapy during treatment, collaborative research like this is essential to improving patient outcomes. 

Watch this video featuring Ornella Barra, Chief Executive Officer for The Boots Group.

The Radiation Oncology Scientific Council (ROSC) serves as an advisory body representing the radiation oncology community and set EORTC's strategic vision in radiation oncology. This dynamic "think tank", comprised of leading experts from the radiation oncology community, fosters interdisciplinary exchange among EORTC's Disease-Oriented Groups, identifying emerging research areas and advocating for the critical role of radiotherapy. It also supports a branch of Early Career Investigators (ECI) in radiation oncology, with 118 members, providing training and support to research initiatives.  

We take this opportunity to welcome Joost Verhoeff (VUMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands), new chair of the ROSC as of September 2025. He succeeds Piet Ost (ZAS, Antwerp, Belgium), who was chairing the ROSC from 2021-2025, and achieved a remarkable number of accomplishments during his tenure. 

"I am honoured to step into the role of ROSC Chair, building on the incredible foundation Piet Ost established. I'm eager to collaborate with our members and continue driving the important work of the ROSC forward.", Joost Verhoeff, Amsterdam UMC. 

More information on the ROSC can be found here.  

The EORTC's steady commitment to patient safety and data integrity is exemplified by its comprehensive Radiotherapy Quality Assurance (RTQA) programme. For more than 40 years, it has contributed to consistent and accurate delivery of radiotherapy treatment across multiple institutions, for reliable clinical trial results and optimal patient outcomes.  

The EORTC RTQA team implements stringent procedures to verify the quality of radiotherapy plans and compliance with the trial protocol. This meticulous attention to detail not only enhances the reliability of EORTC trial data but also serves to elevate the standard of radiotherapy practice across participating centres, ultimately benefiting patients receiving treatment both within and outside of clinical trials. 

A vital aspect of the EORTC's enduring impact is its commitment to nurturing the next generation of cancer researchers through comprehensive fellowship programmes, like the Emmanuel van der Schueren fellowship in RTQA for a radiation oncologist, supported by the Kom op Tegen Kanker foundation, and the Andrée Dutreix fellowship in RTQA for a medical physicist, currently held by Volha Hertsyk in Radiotherapy Quality Assurance (RTQA).  

Listen to Volha and other fellows talk about EORTC Fellowship 

Beyond these foundational pillars, EORTC continuously conducts a wide array of clinical studies that integrate radiotherapy, addressing various cancer types and treatment challenges, across Disease Oriented Groups. These studies range from large, practice-changing Phase III trials to innovative investigations in emerging fields. Examples include: 

• The PRIMALung (EORTC-1901-LCG) study is a pivotal Phase III trial investigating whether active brain MRI surveillance alone is non-inferior to brain MRI surveillance combined with prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). 

• The SPRINT (EORTC-2387) study: this innovative "Trial within Cohorts" (TwiCs) will compare the safety and efficacy of single-fraction stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) versus multi-fraction SBRT for oligometastases in primary breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers, aiming to reduce treatment burden and improve patient quality of life.  

• Furthermore, the OligoRARE (EORTC-1945) study is a randomised Phase III trial investigating the addition of SBRT to standard of care in patients with rare oligometastatic cancers, seeking to improve overall survival in this often underserved patient population. 

• The PROLoNG (EORTC-2014) study focuses on Pembrolizumab and Radiotherapy for Oligometastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, a randomised Phase III study exploring the combination of immunotherapy and radiotherapy in this challenging disease setting. 

• The LEGATO project (EORTC-2227), a pragmatic phase III clinical trial focusing on recurrent Glioblastoma, is investigating the potential benefits of chemo-irradiation compared to chemotherapy alone to improve disease control and survival in patients with this aggressive brain tumour. 

On World Radiotherapy Awareness Day, EORTC recognises the dedication of countless researchers, clinicians, physicists, dosimetrists, radiation technologists, patients and their caretakers who contribute to advancing radiotherapy. Together, we leave no one behind.  

The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, which unites clinical cancer research experts, throughout Europe, to define better treatments for cancer patients to prolong survival and improve quality of life. Spanning from translational to large, prospective, multi-centre, phase III clinical trials that evaluate new therapies and treatment strategies as well as patient quality of life, its activities are coordinated from EORTC Headquarters, a unique international clinical research infrastructure, based in Brussels, Belgium.